The study revealed an increase in digital risks among children

The Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment presented the results of a large-scale study on the online behavioral patterns of children and the level of parental control. The analysis covered more than 2,000 respondents across Russia: children aged 6 to 18 years and their parents.

The data obtained shed light on the nature of digital content consumption, the level of independence of teenagers on the Internet and the attitude of adults to key issues of digital security.

According to the study, the main type of content consumed by children is entertainment. Over the past seven days, 87% of children have watched videos, played online games, or scrolled through memes. The highest activity is observed among adolescents aged 10-14 years, where the share of consumption reaches 91%.

At the same time, the level of parental control decreases with the age of the child. If there are younger children (6-9 years old) among the parents 94% are confident in what kind of content a child is watching, but by the age of 15-18, this figure drops to 70%. This creates additional risks, especially given the growing independence of teenagers on the Internet.

Special attention in the study is paid to the issue of finding part-time jobs for teenagers online. Only 11% of parents consider this process to be absolutely safe, while the rest are more or less aware of the potential pitfalls. At the same time, to large platforms with built-in security tools, such as Avito and hh.ru the level of trust is almost absolute.

"Today, children are full participants in the digital environment. They study, have fun, and start working online. At the same time, parents do not always keep up with what is happening. The digital divide between generations is becoming more and more noticeable, and this is alarming," Elizaveta Belyakova, Chairman of the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, commented on the results of the study.

The analysis also showed that children rarely use educational platforms on their own initiative. As a rule, such resources are visited on the instructions of the school or at the request of parents. This highlights the need to develop motivation for independent learning in the digital space.

In general, the study records a downward trend in adult engagement as the child grows up, while the level of independent digital activity of adolescents is increasing. The lack of rules, poor understanding of modern platforms and the online environment on the part of parents create conditions for increased vulnerability of children.

The findings highlight the importance of digital education not only among children, but also among parents. Raising awareness, developing a trusting dialogue, and involving adults in shaping responsible digital behavior are key conditions for safe digital adulthood.